Track 61, Secret railway track beneath Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, United States
Track 61 is a hidden railway track beneath the Waldorf Astoria Hotel with a private platform for exclusive transportation. The track runs underground and connects to the broader Grand Central Terminal rail system.
The track was built in the early 1900s as part of Grand Central Terminal's development to provide private access to the newly built hotel. President Franklin D. Roosevelt used this concealed route during World War II to travel discreetly between Grand Central and his destinations.
The hidden platform represents how New York City's transportation system was designed to serve the privacy needs of wealthy and powerful guests. This underground passage shows the lengths the city went to keep high-society travel discreet and separate from public view.
The track is located beneath the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Midtown Manhattan and is accessible from street level through a discrete entrance. Most visitors can only view the area from outside, as the facility is not open to the general public.
An unmarked brass door at street level marks the entrance to this hidden infrastructure that few New Yorkers even notice. The site remains operational for emergency transport and has been featured in documentaries and films.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
